China: BYD says electric car passed all tests

By Joanne Chiu
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) — BYD Co., the Chinese auto maker backed by Warren Buffett, said Tuesday its BYD e6 electric car, one of which caught fire in a collision on Saturday, has passed all the tests required by the relevant authorities.

The Chinese car maker in a statement that the batteries used by e6 electric cars have undergone abuse tests and the battery modules didn’t ignite on 50% deformation. The e6 vehicle that caught fire killed three people in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

“Any vehicles undergoing multiple crashes and spinning like the one in the 5.26 (May 26) traffic accident will result in great danger for the passengers and driver, even gasoline-powered vehicles might burn,” it said.

BYD said it doesn’t have access to the electric car involved in the accident as it is currently being retained by the traffic police department in Shenzhen. The company said it will cooperate with the relevant authority over the investigation.

The company “strongly believes” that the incident won’t have a negative impact on the development of new energy industry, it added.
Source marketwatch.com